Cereal bowl

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cereal bowl for gradually mixing a solid food and a liquid food for being eaten mixed, comprising an outer container ( 1 ), for a liquid food, and an inner detachable container ( 2 ), for a solid food, wherein the inner container ( 2 ) is provided with a base ( 3 ) slopping towards the center, where a spherical cup ( 4 ) is provided, whose surface comprises a plurality of apertures ( 5 ) for feeding the inner container ( 2 ) with liquid food from the outer container ( 1 ) and partially immersing the inner container ( 2 ) into the liquid food from the outer container ( 1 ), the inner container ( 2 ) being provided with means for floating at the surface of the outer recipient ( 1 ). The invention further relates to a use of the cereal bowl according to the invention, consisting of feeding the outer container ( 1 ) with the entire quantity of liquid food to be eaten, inserting the inner container ( 2 ) into the outer container ( 1 ), feeding the inner container ( 2 ) with the entire amount of solid food to be eaten, and eating continuously or discontinuously the mixture formed of the solid food and of the liquid food, from within the interior of the apertured spherical cup ( 4 ), until the exhaustion of the of the solid food and/or the liquid food.

The present invention relates to a bowl intended to be used as kitchenware (plate), which allows a liquid food and a solid food to be maintained separate when consumed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nutrition experts advise that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, mainly recommended to be formed of cereals and fruits mixed with milk, which, according to statistics, occupies a main place among the diets of millions of people worldwide, due to the benefits brought to health and vitality.

However, consuming cereals and milk raises a common inconvenience for most consumers, as statistical studies show that over 70% of them are bothered by that, once poured into milk, cereals moisten rapidly as a result of the liquid absorption, lose their crunchy state and become less appetizing.

In order to avoid the rapid moistening, cereals must be consumed rapidly once poured into milk, or must be added gradually in small quantities, in proportion as they are consumed, until the entire amount of milk is consumed. However, the rapid consuming of cereals may lead to disorders in the digestive system, while the alternative of adding gradually small quantities of cereals into milk requires considerable time and effort, which may affect the disposition end enjoyment in eating.

This deficiency has been solved by many producers by covering cereals with an impermeable glazing coating, which prevents or delays the absorption of milk and thus their moistening, but this implies using food additives and more generally chemical substances and sweeteners, which are generally not desired by consumers.

The state of the art includes containers intended to solve the problem of the rapidly moistening cereals, by means of various constructive elements.

Thereby, a cereal bowl is known having a usual construction, whereby the bottom of the bowl has a declivity with respect to horizontal, so that the milk it contains occupies the deepest portion of the bowl, and thus only a portion of the amount of cereals may fall into milk, while the upper layers of cereals remain above the milk level and move downwards gradually, as the cereals on the bottom of the bowl are consumed.

The disadvantage of this bowl consists of that it does not provide a real separation of the cereals from milk, and on the other hand it requires attention in handling the food content in order to prevent the small quantity of cereals from above the surface of the milk to slip into the milk.

Another cereal bowl is known, having a usual construction, whereby separation of cereals from milk is achieved by means of a removable constructive element under the form of a shelf, which occupies the most part of the bowl base and keeps cereals above the milk which lays under the shelf, while the two foods are mixed by gradually pushing the desired amount of cereals down from the shelf, in order to fall into the portion of the bowl base not covered by the removable shelf.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,953 discloses a bowl having two compartments and a divider in between, which provides for the separation of the cereals in one compartment from the milk in the other compartment, while the mixing thereof is achieved gradually, by manually pushing the desired amount of cereals from the cereal compartment into the milk compartment, over the wall divider.

The US patent application US 2011/0141842 discloses a cereal bowl having a continuous spiral, which has two adjacent inner portions placed at different levels and an inner surface which shelves continuously between the two portions, as well as an S-shaped divider between the two portions. The divider has a curved shape in order to maintain cereals in the upper part of the spiral at a level above the liquid level in the lower part of the spiral, until the consumer wishes to have the foods mixed, which is achieved partially due to gravity and partially by manually pushing the desired amount of cereals from the upper part of the bowl into the milk in the lower part of the bowl.

The disadvantages of all these bowls consist of that their use requires a permanent action from the consumer in order to take cereals from the compartment containing them and pushing them into the milk compartment, which is essentially similar to using two different bowls and periodically dosing the desired amounts from the cereal bowl into the milk bowl.

The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/703,545 discloses a partitioned cereal bowl, provided with an elastic membrane which divides the container into two portions, wherefrom a lower portion containing milk and an upper portion, bound by the elastic membrane on which solid cereals are placed. The mixing of cereals is achieved by pushing down the membrane by means of a utensil, such as a spoon, in order to immerse the desired amount of cereals into milk, before being picked up and consumed.

The disadvantage of this cereal bowl consists of that it requires coordination and effort from the user in order to control the depression of the elastic membrane and makes the use difficult whenever the liquid level decreases, actually making it impossible to consume the entire amount of milk. In addition, the elastic membrane provided with small apertures raises maintenance issues, in that it facilitates residues being formed as a consequence of repeated use, which are difficult to be removed within the cleaning process, fact that may lead to a less hygienic use.

Finally, US patent application US 2010/0001007 discloses an assembly for separating the liquid and the solid components of a food product, formed of a lower bowl and an upper bowl, the upper bowl being hosted in the lower bowl and forming a cavity in the space occupied by the bottom of the lower bowl. The upper bowl includes a plurality of apertures in communication with the respective cavity and through which the liquid component may be separated by the solid component by that the liquid component is leaking into the cavity.

The disadvantage of this solution consists in that it does not provide for the separation of the two components during its use, but only when the upper bowl is drawn off from the lower bowl, after its use, for example for giving the user the possibility to selectively dispense the food residues after use.

Therefore, it results being necessary to design a bowl which to maintain the crunchy properties of cereals dosed by the consumer from the beginning in the desired quantity, by that of keeping the cereals separated from the milk, while allowing gradual mixing of the two foods in proportion as they are consumed.

The technical problem intended to be solved by the present invention consists of building a bowl which to allow eating a mixture of a solid food under the form of granules or slices, in particular cereals, and of a liquid food, in particular milk, proportioned from the beginning in the desired amounts, and which to allow the solid food and the liquid food to rest separated all through its use, while comprising means for gradually mixing the solid food and the liquid food in small quantities, without the need for a continuous intervention from the user.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and solves the technical problem stated therein by means of a cereal bowl which allows a solid food and a liquid food to be maintained separated, less small amounts thereof gradually mixed for being eaten together.

The cereal bowl according to the invention comprises an outer container for a liquid food, in which a removable inner container for a solid food under the form of granules or slices fits, wherein the base of the inner container has a declivity towards the center, where it hollows into a spherical cup, provided on its surface with a plurality of apertures, through which the inner container may be continuously fed with liquid food from the outer container, whereas the outer container is provided with an air chamber placed outside its base, surrounding the apertured spherical cup, allowing the inner container to be kept floating at the surface of the outer container, while the apertured spherical cup immerses into the liquid food from the outer container.

The sloping base of the inner container allows the solid food it contains to continuously and freely slip within the central apertured spherical cup, where it mixes with the liquid food infiltrated into the inner container from the outer container through the apertures of the spherical cup.

The outer container has a sloping base towards a central cavity, corresponding to the outer surface of the apertured spherical cup of the inner container, which allows the liquid food to freely drain into the base cavity of the outer container.

The cereal bowl according to the present invention is configured such that the inner container may be inserted into the outer container and the relative position of the two containers may be kept fixed horizontally, by means of some vertical grooves provided on the inner wall of the outer container, corresponding to some vertical protrusions provided on the outer wall of the inner container. For easily detaching the inner container from the outer container, the inner container is further provided with a collar in the upper part.

The present invention also relates to a use of the cereal bowl according to the invention, consisting of feeding the outer container with liquid food, inserting the inner container into the outer container by fitting the protrusions of the inner container into the grooves of the outer container, feeding the inner container with solid food and eating, continuously or discontinuously, the mixture formed of solid food and liquid food within the apertured spherical cup at the base of the inner container, until the amount of solid food from the inner container and/or the liquid food from the outer container is exhausted.

The cereal bowl according to the invention has the following advantages:

-   -   provides efficient and effortless separation of the solid food         and of the liquid food all through the eating process, thereby         ensuring that the solid food is maintained dry and thus its         crunchy properties are maintained;     -   may be easily used by any person;     -   does not require any effort from the user as regards dosing the         amounts of solid or liquid food, and their gradual mixing;     -   allows the entire amount of liquid food from the outer container         to be eaten, without the need to detach the inner container;     -   allows easy maintenance and cleaning, being formed of two         detachable pieces devoid of any complicated constructive         elements.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be disclosed hereinafter, nonexclusive of other embodiments which would require structural or functional modifications, still not departing from the purpose and spirit of the present invention. The preferred embodiment will now be disclosed with reference to the explanatory drawings, which represent:

FIG. 1—frontal sectional view of the cereal bowl according to the invention, in use;

FIG. 2—perspective sectional view of the cereal bowl according to the invention, wherein the inner container is detached from the outer container.

The cereal bowl according to the invention comprises two components: an outer container 1 for a liquid food and a detachable inner container 2 for a solid food, where the inner container 2 has a base 3 slopping towards the center allowing the solid food to freely slip towards an apertured spherical cup 4 provided in the center of the inner container, wherein the surface of the apertured spherical cup 4 comprises a plurality of apertures 5 through which the inner container 2 is fed with liquid food from the outer container 1. Below the base 3 of the inner container 2, an air chamber surrounding the apertured spherical cup 4 is provided, which serves for maintaining the inner container 2 floating at the surface of the liquid food in the outer container 1 while the apertured spherical cup 4 immerses into the liquid food from the outer container 1.

In another embodiment of the invention, the inner container 2 may be maintained floating at the surface of the liquid food from the outer container 1 by that of being partially manufactured from a special material, namely its base 3 may be manufactured from a special material having floating properties. As well, the scope and claims of the present invention include any other means by which the inner container 2 may be maintained immersed into the liquid from the outer container 1 approximately up to the upper limit of the apertured spherical cup 4, amongst which a non-limitative example includes an air coil, either detachable from the inner container 2, or stuck to the inner container 2, extending under its base around the apertured spherical portion 4.

The inner container 1 has a base 7 slopping downwards the center, where a cavity 8 is provided, corresponding to the outer surface of the apertured spherical cup 4 of the inner container 2.

The inner container 1 slides tightly within the interior of the inner container 2, and the relative position of the two containers is maintained horizontally steady by means of some vertical grooves 9 provided on the inner wall of the outer container 1, corresponding to some vertical protrusions 10, provided on the outer wall of the inner container 2.

The cereal bowl according to the invention may be easily assembled, by fitting the protrusions 10 of the inner container 2 into the grooves 9 of the outer container 1.

For easy removing from the outer container 1, the inner container 2 is provided in the upper part with a collar 11.

As well, the cereal bowl according to the invention may be further provided with other constructive elements, such as, but not limiting to, handles or holders which to ensure easy handling, or various constructive elements intended to ensure a higher comfort in using the cereal bowl, such as alternative handling means, or recesses or seats for hosting a utensil, such as a spoon.

During use, the cereal bowl according to the invention delimits 3 zones:

-   -   dry zone A, represented by the volume occupied by the solid food         within the interior of the inner container 2, less the interior         of the apertured spherical cup 4;     -   wet zone B, represented by the volume occupied by the liquid         food in between the interior of the outer container 1 and the         exterior of the inner container 2; and     -   mixed zone C, placed within the interior of the apertured         spherical cup 4 at the base of the inner container 2, where the         solid food and the liquid food can be eaten mixed.

The slopping base 3 of the inner container 2 ensures the necessary slope which to allow the free and continuous slopping, by gravity, of the solid food from the dry area A downwards to the mixed area C, which constitutes the deepest portion of the inner container 2, such that, in proportion as the solid food from the mixed area C is consumed, it is automatically replaced by another quantity of solid food which slopes freely from the dry area A.

Eating the mixture of cereals and milk from the area C results as well in a decrease of the wet area B, which causes a downwards movement of the inner container 2, towards the base of the outer container 1, while the slopping base 7 of the outer container 1 ensures that the decreasing liquid food freely drains into the interior of the cavity 8. When the liquid level in the outer container 1 reaches the upper limit of the cavity 8, the outer surface of the apertured spherical cup 4 will get in contact with the inner surface of the cavity 8, the entire volume of the remaining liquid food being in the mixed area C.

The invention also relates to a use of the cereal bowl according to the invention, consisting of feeding the outer container 1 with liquid food, inserting the outer container 2 into the inner container 1 by fitting the protrusions 10 of the outer wall of the inner container 2 into the grooves 9 of the inner wall of the outer container 1, feeding the inner container 2 with solid food and eating continuously or discontinuously the mixture of solid food and liquid food from the interior of the apertured spherical cup 4, until the exhaustion of the amount of solid food and/or liquid food.

The cereal bowl according to the invention ensures continuous feeding of the apertured spherical cup 4 with solid food from the dry area A and liquid food from the wet area B, thereby forming the mixed area C, wherefrom the mixture of solid food and liquid food may be gradually taken with a utensil, such as a spoon.

During use of the cereal bowl according to the invention, the mixture of liquid food and solid food from the mixed area C remains constant, automatically restoring after each spoon taken by the user, as a result of the free slopping of a fresh quantity of solid food within the interior of the apertured spherical cup 4 which replaces the quantity taken by the user, as well as the free infiltration of a the liquid food through the apertures of the apertured spherical cup 4, which puts the outer recipient 1 and the inner recipient 2 in fluid communication.

As the mixture in the mixed area C is gradually eaten, the wet area B decreases, causing downwards movement of the inner container 2 towards the base of the outer container 1, such that, when the liquid level in the wet area B reaches the upper limit of the cavity 8, the remaining amount of liquid food has entirely inflowing into the spherical cup 4, which therefore fits into the cavity 8, allowing total consumption of the liquid food. 

1. Cereal bowl for gradually mixing a solid food and a liquid food for being eaten mixed, characterized by that it comprises an outer container (1), for a liquid food, and an inner detachable container (2), for a solid food, wherein the inner container (2) is provided with a base (3) slopping towards the center, where a spherical cup (4) is provided, whose surface comprises a plurality of apertures (5) for feeding the inner container (2) with liquid food from the outer container (1) and partially immersing the inner container (2) into the liquid food from the outer container (1), the inner container (2) being provided with means for floating at the surface of the outer recipient (1).
 2. Cereal bowl according to claim 1, characterized by that, the means for maintaining the inner recipient (2) floating at the surface of the liquid in the outer container (1), simultaneously with maintaining the apertured spherical cup (4) immersed into the liquid in the outer recipient (1), consist of that the inner recipient (2) is provided with an air chamber (6) placed under its base (3) around the spherical cup (4).
 3. Cereal bowl according to claim 1, characterized by that, the means for maintaining the inner recipient (2) floating at the surface of the liquid in the outer container (1), simultaneously with maintaining the apertured spherical cup (4) immersed into the liquid in the outer recipient (1), consist of that the inner recipient (2) is provided with an air coil, stuck to, or detachable from, the inner container (2), provided outside the inner container (2) around the spherical cup (4).
 4. Cereal bowl according to claim 1, characterized by that, the means for maintaining the inner recipient (2) floating at the surface of the liquid in the outer container (1), simultaneously with maintaining the apertured spherical cup (4) immersed into the liquid in the outer recipient (1), consist of that the inner container (2) is manufactured entirely from a low-weight expanded material.
 5. Cereal bowl according to the claim 1, characterized by that the outer container (1) has a base (7) slopping downwards a cavity (8), provided in its center and corresponding to the exterior surface of the apertured spherical cup (4) at the base of the inner container (2), which ensures the free flow of the liquid food downwards to the cavity (8).
 6. Cereal bowl according to the preceding claims, characterized by that ensures the assembling of the inner container (2) into the outer container (1) maintaining a fixed relative position horizontally between the two containers (1, 2) by means of some vertical grooves (9) provided on the interior wall of the outer container (1), corresponding to some vertical protrusions (10) provided on the exterior wall of the inner container (2), wherein the inner container (2) is provided with a collar (11) in the upper part, serving for detaching the inner container (2) from the outer container (1), the cereal bowl according to the invention being further provided with other constructive elements, such as handles or holders for an easy handling, constructive configurations, recesses or spaces for hosting a utensil, such as a spoon, ensuring additional comfort during use.
 7. Use of the cereal bowl according to the invention, characterized by that it ensures continuous and free feeding of the spherical cup (4) with the solid food slopping downwards form the inner container (2) and with the liquid food which drains freely from the outer container (1) through the apertures (5), describing three zones: dry zone (A), represented by the portion occupied by the solid food within the interior of the inner container (2), less the interior of the apertured spherical cup (4); wet zone (B), represented by the portion occupied by the liquid food, in between the interior of the outer container (1) and the exterior of the inner container (2); and mixed zone (C), located within the interior of the apertured spherical cup (4) from the base of the inner container (2), within which the solid food and the liquid food are mixed, wherein the use consists of feeding the outer container (1) with the entire quantity of liquid food to be eaten, inserting the inner container (2) into the outer container (1) by fitting the protrusions (10) of the inner container (2) into the grooves (9) of the outer container (1), feeding the inner container (2) with the entire amount of solid food to be eaten, and eating continuously or discontinuously the mixture formed of the solid food and of the liquid food, from the mixed zone (C), located within the interior of the apertured spherical cup (4), until the exhaustion of the solid food from the dry zone (A) and/or the liquid food from the wet zone (B).
 8. Cereal bowl according to the preceding claims, characterized by that the dry zone (A) may comprise any solid food under the form of granules or slices, and the wet zone (B) may comprise any liquid food. 